Katharine Carr on Oprah: She's a Liar!

It's hard to know what to make of Kitty Kelley and her new, unauthorized biography of Oprah Winfrey.

On one hand, the author relies on anonymous sources and tired gossip material to write about the talk show host's sexuality and friendship with Gayle King.

However, she also broke the (confirmed-as-true) news that Oprah once lived with John Tesh.

Kelley has penned books on famous subjects such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Frank Sinatra and Nancy Reagan - and never been successfully sued for libel or forced to retract a written statement. The author may make her living in a morally grey area, but she's never been outed as a liar.

Therefore, Oprah fans might be disturbed by the content of Kelley's latest book. Especially the chapter that quotes Winfrey's cousin, Katharine Carr. Simply put, Carr paints Oprah as someone who is an enemy of the truth...

"Where Oprah got that nonsense about growing up in filth and roaches, I have no idea. [Oprah's grandmother] kept a spotless house... It was a wooden, six-room house with a large living room that had a fireplace and rocking chair," Carr says, adding:

"I've confronted her and asked 'Why do you tell such lies?' Oprah told me, 'That's what people want to hear. The truth is boring.'"

Carr also says she loves her cousin and forgives her because Oprah has done so much for other people. But she closes with a major zinger:

"Oprah does not love her mother at all... She gives her a great deal financially, but she does not give her the respect and affection a daughter should, and that bothers me."

Are these words of a bitter relative? Or the exposure of television's most beloved icon as someone that's built a reputation on lies and half-truths? You decide.